Inter Milan scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 2–1 victory over Fiorentina at San Siro on Sunday, moving level on points with Lazio at the top of the Serie A table.
Fiorentina appeared on course for a valuable away victory after Álex Jiménez fired the visitors ahead in the 65th minute. However, Marcus Thuram equalised in the 91st minute before winning a late penalty that Piotr Zieliński converted to complete Inter's remarkable turnaround.
The result lifted Cristian Chivu's side to 22 points, level with Lazio, while Fiorentina remained 18th with just four points after suffering another disappointing league defeat.
Inter Dominate but Fail to Break Through Before Half-Time
Inter started brightly and created several opportunities during the opening period, but Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea repeatedly denied the hosts.
Pio Esposito came close with a header that forced an impressive save, while Thuram also tested the Spanish goalkeeper with a dangerous angled effort.
Despite Inter's attacking pressure, Fiorentina defended resolutely and managed to reach the interval with the score still goalless.
The home side continued to push after the restart, with De Gea producing another important stop to keep out a powerful Thuram strike. Inter struggled to turn their possession and chances into a goal, allowing the visitors to remain in the contest.
Álex Jiménez Stuns Inter with Opener
Against the run of play, Fiorentina took the lead in the 65th minute through Jiménez.
The former AC Milan player produced a superb long-range finish that caught Inter goalkeeper Ivan Provedel by surprise, sending the ball into the net and silencing the home crowd.
The goal put Fiorentina in a strong position to claim an important result, but Inter responded by increasing their attacking pressure.
Carlos Augusto came close with a header that struck the crossbar, while substitute Petar Sučić also tested De Gea as the hosts searched desperately for an equaliser.
For much of the second half, Fiorentina looked capable of holding on. However, Inter refused to give up, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Thuram and Zieliński Complete Inter's Comeback
Inter finally found their breakthrough in the 91st minute when Thuram finished from close range to make it 1–1, sparking celebrations among the home supporters.
The French forward then became central to the decisive moment of the match. After being brought down inside the penalty area by Víctor Valdepeñas, Thuram won Inter a late spot-kick.
Zieliński stepped up and converted from the penalty spot in the 97th minute, completing Inter's comeback and securing all three points.
The late turnaround rewarded Inter's persistence after a match in which they had created numerous opportunities but struggled to find a way past De Gea.
Inter Return to the Top of Serie A
The victory took Inter to 22 points, drawing them level with Lazio at the top of the standings. The result provided a significant boost to their title ambitions and maintained their momentum in the early stages of the campaign.
For Chivu, the comeback also demonstrated his side's determination to keep pushing until the final whistle, even when the match appeared to be slipping away.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a damaging defeat after coming close to securing a valuable result away from home. Their latest loss left them 18th in the table with four points, increasing the pressure to improve their league form.
Inter will look to build on this dramatic victory in their next fixture, while Fiorentina must find a way to turn competitive performances into points before their position becomes more difficult to recover from.
